Rajon Rondo gets vote of confidence from ex-teammates

Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett say they think the point guard is ready to be a leader of the rebuilding Celtics.

Jim Fenton The Enterprise @JFenton_ent

Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett did more than just thank their supporters and take bows on Sunday night.

The former Celtics, now members of the Brooklyn Nets, also offered some words of ad vice and encouragement for ex- teammate Rajon Rondo on their first visit to TD Garden since being traded last summer.

With Pierce and Garnett along with coach Doc Rivers departing the Celtics, Rondo is the last man standing from the 2007-08 championship team.

He is part of a rebuilding process that could take some time and has been named the franchise's 15th captain.

Tough times are going to be endured by Rondo and the Celtics (who are 15-31 with 17 losses in the last 20 games) for an indefinite amount of time, and he is going to have to serve as a leader through it all.

There have been plenty of questions as to whether Rondo is right for that role, but Pierce and Garnett, who had dinner with him on Saturday night, feel he can handle the assign ment.

"I think he's ready now,'' said Pierce, who spent seven seasons with the point guard. "Rondo is mature. He under stood what was coming. Be fore, he had me and Kevin to lean on and now he's the guy. He's the captain.

"He is who everybody looks to for leadership and I think he's ready. He's grown. He's matured. He's seen the bottom, he's seen the top. He's got to understand that this is his team to lead through good and bad.

"I think he understands that and he is ready for that role. He's ready to deal with it.''

Garnett, who was a big sup porter of Rondo during their six seasons together, has given his former teammate plenty of pointers on how to be a leader.

"I think he took notes last time we were talking to him,'' said Garnett. "More important ly, we stressed that you need to lead by example, even when he doesn't want to. I also talk to him about being professional and being a pro.

"You don't get to pick and choose when you get to do that. Just understand the pedigree of a champion. You don't let los ing become something usual.

"Keep the mentality tough and not all are going to follow, but most will. Lead by exam ple. Rondo is ready. I think he is very comfortable in his role here.

"I think he understood the transition when it was happen ing and he has the type of men tality and he's the type of per son with the personality to do just that.''

The Celtics, who began Monday night with the NBA's fourth-worst record, return to action tonight at Madison Square Garden against the New York Knicks (7:35, TV: Com cast SportsNet; radio: WZLX- 100.7 FM).

Rondo will be playing his sixth game since returning from anterior cruciate ligament surgery and is averaging 6.6 points, 5.8 assists and 4.2 re bounds in nearly 24 minutes.

Against the Nets, Rondo had his most productive game with 13 points, eight assists and eight rebounds, but his sixth turnover in the closing seconds led to a Garnett steal and pre vented the Celtics from at tempting a game-tying shot.

Rondo went a season-high 30:31 as his minutes have been increased after a restriction of 20-25 minutes.

"I'm feeling better,'' said Rondo. "Adrenaline is the best thing going for me right now. I knew my minutes had in creased a little bit. There will be soe good days and some bad.''

Said coach Brad Stevens: "I still think he's (in) game five of the exhibition season and I think he'll continue to get bet ter.''

Jim Fenton may be reached at jfenton@enterprise news.com. Follow him on Twitter at @JFenton_ent.